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Want A Straw In Your Drink At A California Diner? You'll Have To Ask For One Starting Jan. 1

Sacramento brunch restaurant Bacon and Butter has replaced plastic straws with straws made out of hay. A new law going into effect in 2019 will require restaurants to give out plastic straws only upon request.

It's not an outright ban, nor does it stop fast-food restaurants, delis or coffee-shops from serving drinks with plastic straws. Dine-in restaurants will still be able to use plastic straws, but diners will have to ask for them specifically.

Sacramento eatery Bacon and Butter already enforces the rule. Front House Manager Matthew Ortiz says they offer straws made out of hay.

“[They] are about 10 times more expensive than plastic straws, so we ended up going completely, still, to straws by request only,” Ortiz says.

He says the only two things the restaurants serve automatically with a straw are a bloody mary and michelada, but customers often ask for straws when they serve drinks in Mason jars. Read More